JAMAICA — A man who built hundreds of stone cairns in remembrance of his dog on the Winhall River in Rawsonville was charged with simple assault after he allegedly punched a man who he thought had knocked them down.

Kevin Polhemus, 50 of Jamaica was cutting wood at his sawmill last Wednesday on Route 30 when Grant Bercik, 25, of Jamaica approached him, according to Vermont State Trooper Chris Mora. The trooper said Bercik accused Polhemus of knocking down his cairns but Polhemus denied the act.

Police located Bercik and charged him with simple assault. He will be arraigned Sept. 17 in criminal court in Brattleboro.

Peter Salo said in an interview with the Rutland Herald last week that he was the one who knocked down the cairns. Salo said he thought they posed a traffic hazard and were dangerous to Route 30 traffic.

Hundreds of people gathered on the Winhall River on Saturday to rebuild the cairns Salo knocked down. The cairns were a Route 30 attraction that many people enjoyed, according to some local residents who participated.